{"id":"01KG8AJRAXFAH7BZH9VV6QFPVG","cid":"bafkreihsatqkeszpdnv27g45ghkfxetkl3s7afvaa2xlbwx33kzlbnmdta","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# A Requiem\n\n## Overview\n\"A Requiem\" is a poem that appears as a segment within the larger collection \"[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)\". It is a lyrical piece, likely written in the 19th century, given its inclusion in the complete works of Herman Melville.\n\n## Context\nThis poem is part of the collection \"[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)\", a significant work by Herman Melville that explores themes related to the American Civil War. The collection itself is housed within the broader \"[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)\" archive. The text was extracted from the file \"[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)\". This segment follows the poem \"[On the Grave of a young Cavalry Officer killed in the Valley of Virginia.](arke:01KG8AJRAXH765NQJYV9XSA8J9)\" and precedes the poem \"[On a natural Monument](arke:01KG8AJRBAZC6M5RA5TDGN1FA6)\".\n\n## Contents\nThe poem, titled \"A Requiem for Soldiers lost in Ocean Transports,\" reflects on the fate of soldiers lost at sea during wartime. It contrasts the natural world's renewal and joy after a storm with the eternal loss of those who perished in ocean transports. The imagery evokes the sea, storms, and the creatures that inhabit it, highlighting the finality of death for the soldiers whose \"bark was lost where now the dolphins play.\" The poem laments their inability to see land or be guided home, emphasizing their permanent separation from life and the world.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:24.813Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"A Requiem","end_line":3620,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:35.911Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"A Requiem","source_file":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","start_line":3588,"text":"A Requiem\r\nfor Soldiers lost in Ocean Transports.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen, after storms that woodlands rue,\r\n  To valleys comes atoning dawn,\r\nThe robins blithe their orchard-sports renew;\r\n  And meadow-larks, no more withdrawn,\r\nCaroling fly in the languid blue;\r\nThe while, from many a hid recess,\r\nAlert to partake the blessedness,\r\nThe pouring mites their airy dance pursue.\r\n  So, after ocean’s ghastly gales,\r\nWhen laughing light of hoyden morning breaks,\r\n      Every finny hider wakes--\r\n  From vaults profound swims up with glittering scales;\r\n  Through the delightsome sea he sails,\r\nWith shoals of shining tiny things\r\nFrolic on every wave that flings\r\n  Against the prow its showery spray;\r\nAll creatures joying in the morn,\r\nSave them forever from joyance torn,\r\n  Whose bark was lost where now the dolphins play;\r\nSave them that by the fabled shore,\r\n  Down the pale stream are washed away,\r\nFar to the reef of bones are borne;\r\n  And never revisits them the light,\r\nNor sight of long-sought land and pilot more;\r\n  Nor heed they now the lone bird’s flight\r\nRound the lone spar where mid-sea surges pour.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"A Requiem"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJRAXH765NQJYV9XSA8J9","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJRBAZC6M5RA5TDGN1FA6","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:41.917Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.067Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}